Qatar Accelerates Solar Development

Qatar is blessed, and cursed, with its bounty of natural gas and oil. But it is also rich in sunlight, which had long been wasted--until now. Companies like GreenGulf are developing solar technologies that could make the 2022 World Cup a masterful showcase. And with oil and gas more valuable on world markets--not to mention the pressing issue that these are finite resources--it makes more pragmatic sense for Qatar to export these resources rather than consume them voraciously at home. Economic growth within the Gulf, in fact, will require seven percent more energy annually this decade. Clean energy can help bridge that gap.

For now these are big “if’s.” Qatar and other countries in the Middle East are often criticized for proving plenty of talk but little action. While much of the criticism is unfair, the onus is on the Qatari government to show that it is serious about tackling problems like climate volatility and laying the foundation for a more diversified economy.